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THE CABOGH OBPHANAGE.
BEV. MB. COTTON AGAI1T CONVICTED.
On 19th July at the Kildare Assizes,
before the Lord. Chief Justice and
jury, the Bev. S. G. Cotton and his wife,
of the Carogh Orphanage, were indicted
on a charge of neglecting and ill-treating
two children named Mary and Thomas
Dennison, aged three and five years
res spectiveljr, while they were in the
orpl pnanage, in May last. Evidence was
given as to the condition of the children.
They were described as full of vermin,
very dirty, covered with sores, and
clothed in dirty old rags. Corrupted
matter was oozing from the feet. The
description created a sensation in court.
The girl's body was described as beings
in a regular black crust of dirt. She was
very thin, the bones actually protruding
through the skin, and she was full of
crawling vermin. After the evidence
and the speeches of counsel, the jury
found a verdict of guilty against the
Bev. Mr. Cotton and of acquittal of Mrs.
Cotton.
The Lord Chief Justice said he entirely
agreed with the verdict. During
the course of many years' experience of
criminal law he never found himself so
profoundly moved. The accused had
already been found guilty in the city of
Belfast of a similar offence. But neither
that nor his sacred calling induced him
to relinquish his evil ways. He would
sentence the accused to twelve months'
imprisonment.
nprts
. The prisoner then attempted to speaks,
but his Lordship refused to hear him."
He was then removed, apparently not
very much concerned.
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